Automatic train pipe coupling



Oct. 27, 1931. c. c. FARMER AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Sheet 1 FiledDec. 10, 1928 r 2 Sheets F INVENTOR CLYDE C. FARMER BY 0 %M/ I ATTORNEYC. C. FARMER Oct. 27, 1931.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Filed Dec. 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR I CLYDE C. FARMER' BY Vfin W ATTOR EY l atented. Oct. 27, 1931PATEN oFF-lcE OF PENNSYLVANIA I AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE ooUPLiNG CLYDE e.FAnMnaos nmsnonen'," PENNSYLVANIA, ,AssIeNon '10 m wEs'rmenousn AIRBRAKE COMPANY, or 1WILIERDING,

'AppIication fiIed Decmber-10, 1928. Serial No. 324,861.

' This invention relates to automatic train pipe couplings, and moreparticularly to the type known as ling.

" An object of the invention is to provide a train pipe coupling of theabovementioned yp the couplinghead with the head of a counter partcoupling when cars are brought together 'for'coupling up. I

Another object of the invention is to pro:

vide a train pipe coupling in which the coupling head is connected tothe headof a.

counterpart coupling by an automatically actuated cam mechanism. I

Another object of the invention is toqpr'o- I vide atrain' pipe couplingof-the character. mentioned which is simple 1n construction,

and reliable and exact in conditions of service. g

The invention also comprises certain new function under all and usefulimprovements inthe construction,

"hereinaftermore .vehtion, terpart coupling;

arrangement and combination of the several parts of which it iscomposed, as will be In the accompanying drawings; Figures 1 and 1 arelongitudinal sections of an automatic train pipe coupling embodying theinshowing the same coupled to a counand Fi s. 2 and 2" are views similarto Figs. 1 and coupling head in unlocked position. v

"Referring to the drawings, the automatic train-pipe coupling maycomprise ahead 5 having a projecting nose 6 adapted to engage,

in a recess 7 ota counterpart coupling head.

Alever 8, pivoted in the coupling head: 5, at 9, has a cam face 10 forengaging the face 11 of a counterpart coupling head, to lock the twocoupling heads jtogethe'rwhen-the I same are coupled in the manner shownin Fig. 1.

Extending laterally from the lever 8, 1s

I. an arm 12, to whicharod 13 is pivotally con- 'nected by a pin 14. Theouter end of the rod 13 is provided with a head 15, and interposedbetween said head and a fixed abutment 16,is a coil spring 17.

Mounted in the coup ing head 5 is a con the tight or rigid lock;cou-.

e with means for automatically looking I fully described and claimed.

1*, showing the provided with agasket'19 adaptedto engage Theoppositelend of thestem 22 is pro- PENNSYLVANIA, A COBPORATION vide'dwith a ball section 23 which is mounted in a bracket 24t'suspended fromthe car cou-- pler 25. I

'A' follower collar. 26 is slidably mounted onthe rear portion of thesleeve 21 and carri'es'a pin 27 which extends through elongated slots 28in the sleeve 21 and also through an I elongated slot 29 in the stem 22.

A front follower collar'30 is also mounted on the sleeve 21 and carriesa pin 31 which 1 extends through elongated slots 32 in the sleeve 21 andthrough an elongated slot 33 in the stem 22. I

Acoil spring 34 is interposed; between the collars 26 and 30 andthespring is adapted to'be compressed upon movement of either collarrelative to the other when the conpling head 5 is telescoped orotherwise moved relative to the" stem 22; The spring 34 is also;

under initial compression which tends to hold the coupling head 5extended with respect to the stem 22 when the coupling is uncoupled froma counterpart coupling.

At the front end, the stem-22 is provided with an extended portion35,,0n which is I mounted a roller 36, by means of a' pin The roller 36is disposed along the longitudinal center line of the stem 22, and it isadapted to be engaged, when the coupling is being uncoupled from. acounterpart coupling, by the hook-shaped end 38 of an arm 39 extendingfrom the lever 8. w

The side ofthe end portio -38 of the-arm 39 facing the roller 36' isformed with a. cam

surface 40, which terminates, nearthe'extremity of the arm 39 in anarcuate notch.

or recess 41. e i e "For purpose of; limiting the outward movement ofthe arm 89 when the r s:

is uncoupled from a counterpart coupling, the head 5 is provided with anabutment or stop 42.

In operation, when the usual car couplers of adjoining cars areuncoupled in the usual manner, the coupling heads 5 will remain coupledand locked together until the cars have moved apart suificiently to pullthe coupling heads outwardly of the stems 22.

This action will move theends 38 of the arms 39 toward the ends of thestems 22, bringing the cam surfaces 40 into engagement with the rollers36.

Inasmuch as the stems 22 of the two cars will be pulled away from eachother when the cars are uncoupled, when the rollers 36 engage the camsurfaces 40, the tension of the rollers against the cam surfaces 40 willbe such that the arms 39 will be moved laterally frointhe position shownin Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. The cam surfaces 10 of thelevers 8 will thus be withdrawnfrorn the faces 11 of the coupling heads,and the coupling heads will be unlocked, thereby permitting the noses 6of the two coupling heads to be withdrawn from the recesses 7 when thecoupling heads 5 separate.

When the interlocked coupling heads are unlocked, in the manner justdescribed, the rollers 36 will engage in the recesses 41 and thecoupling heads 5 will be extended with respect to the stem 22, as shownin Fig. 2. The movement of the arms 39 to cause the 5withdrawal. of thelevers 8 from the noses 6,

swings the arms 12 so as to draw the heads 15 toward the fixed abutment16, thereby compressing the springs 17.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 2 when the de- .J'vice is in unlocked position,the relative positions of the slots 28 and 32 of the stems 21 will beshifted longitudinally with respect to the slots 29 and 33, and thesprings 34 will be compressed between the collars 26, and 30 :which, arebrought closer together. Therefore, when the noses 6 clear the levers 8when the coupling heads separate, the springs 34 and 17 will expand,thereby returning the parts to the normal coupling position, ready foragain coupling-up, the stop 42 limiting the outward swlnglng movement ofthe arm 39, as will be readily understood. 7

-When the cars are brought together for coupling up, the projecting nose6 of one :train plpe coupling head enters the recess 7 ofthe counterpartcoupling head, and when thenose 6 passes by the lever 8, the latter isforced inwardly.

.When the gaskets 19 meet to connect the forward ends of the conduits18, the spring 17 will forcethelever 8 outwardly, thereby engagingthecam surface 10 with the face 11 o to interlock the coupling headstogether in the manner shown in Fig. 1. V

the counterpart coupling head, so as embodiment or otherwise than by theterms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. A device of the class described comprising a train pipe couplinghaving a rearwardly extending sleeve section and a lever for locking thecoupling head in its coupled position, a stem mounted in said sleevesection and having one end anchored to the car and having a roller atthe other end, and an arm projecting from said lever and extendingacross said stem in the path of the roller.

2. A device of the class described comprising a stem anchored at one endand havin a roller at the other end, a coupling hea slidabl mounted onthe stem and having a lever or locking the coupling head in its coupledposition, an arm projecting from said lever and extending across saidstem, and a cam face on the side of the arm facing the roller.

3. A device of the class described comprising a movable coupling headhaving a lever for locking the coupling in its coupling position with acounterpart coupling, a fixed 4. A device of the class describedcomprising a movable coupling headhaving a lever for locking thecoupling in its coupling position, a fixed supporting member for thecoupling having a free end terminating within said coupling head, and anarm projecting 1 from said lever and having a cam face extending acrossthe end of said supporting member.

5. A device of the class described comprising a fixed supporting memberhaving a free end, a coupling head telescopingly mounted on saidsupporting member, a roller on the free end of said supporting member, alever carried by said coupling head for locking the coupling in itscoupling position with a counterpart coupling, and an arm projectingfrom said lever and adapted to be engaged by said roller. g

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 7th day ofDecember, 1928.

, CLYDE C. FARMER.

